Liam Lawson thinks he knows the real reason why Red Bull have delayed their 2026 F1 line-up decision

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Liam Lawson has “no idea” when Red Bull will decide if he will have a seat on the grid in the 2026 season, but the Racing Bulls star thinks he knows the reason for the delay.

The 23-year-old has an uncertain future in the field ahead of the last two rounds of the 2025 F1 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Lawson is set to be out of contract at the end of this year, but he is fighting Yuki Tsunoda and Arvid Lindblad for one of the Racing Bulls drives in 2026.

Red Bull are widely expected to drop Tsunoda from their main line-up at the end of the term and promote Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls for 2026. Tsunoda has failed to find the levels of form Red Bull require since he replaced Lawson in their line-up after two rounds this March.

But while Hadjar is in line to join Max Verstappen in Milton Keynes in 2026, Red Bull delayed deciding Tsunoda and Lawson’s F1 futures from their deadline of the Mexico City Grand Prix. Red Bull confirmed in Mexico that no decisions will be made until around the Abu Dhabi GP.

Liam Lawson thinks Red Bull have delayed deciding his F1 future to focus on the constructors’ championship

Despite their public position, it is said that Red Bull will place Lawson and Lindblad at Racing Bulls in 2026 with Tsunoda left out in the cold. But Lawson is still none the wiser about what Red Bull have chosen for next year, and he still does not know when a decision will be made.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

Lawson also thinks Red Bull may leave it until after the 2025 season finale Abu Dhabi GP to set their 2026 line-ups, like they did a year ago. The Kiwi feels Red Bull want to keep him and Tsunoda on their toes to focus on both teams’ 2025 F1 constructors’ championship hopes.

Lawson told RacingNews365 about when Red Bull will make their decision: “Honestly, I have absolutely no idea. I would expect it to be towards the end, if not the end of the season.

“Both teams are in a very important constructors’ race. And I think to give the best opportunity possible for both teams, that’s the reasoning for this, I would say. But for that, I would say they’re going to push it as late as they can. But, obviously, I don’t know.”

Red Bull fear Yuki Tsunoda could lose focus in their fight for second in the 2025 F1 constructors’ championship

Red Bull paid Sergio Perez £15.5m to release him following the end of the 2024 season last December, at which point they promoted Lawson from Racing Bulls and also placed Hadjar at their junior team for his rookie season. Now, Hadjar is due to make the move up in 2026.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull gem Arvid Lindblad including his parents

But Red Bull are yet to decide, at least publicly, whether Tsunoda will return to Racing Bulls in 2026 or whether Lawson will stay in Faenza alongside Lindblad in what will be his rookie F1 season. Lindblad is expected to graduate from F2 and take one of Racing Bulls’ 2026 drives.

And, like Lawson now suggests, it has been said that Red Bull delayed deciding Tsunoda’s F1 future due to the 2025 constructors’ championship. The Milton Keynes crew are believed to fear Tsunoda would lose focus if they were to announce he is not a part of their 2026 plans.

Red Bull can still take second in the 2025 teams’ standings, despite Verstappen scoring 366 of their 391 points so far this season. Mercedes have a 40-point advantage over Red Bull for second place, while Racing Bulls head the four-way fight for sixth place with a 17-point lead.